DIPLOMATIC WRANGLING AND UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDS THE FATE OF NSA LEAKER EDWARD SNOWDEN. HE'S STILL BELIEVED TO BE IN THE MOSCOW AIRPORT--BUT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF HIM THERE THURSDAY. THE 29-YEAR-OLD FACES ESPIONAGE CHARGES IN THE U-S.

TRAVELING IN AFRICA, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAID THE U-S WON'T SCRAMBLE MILITARY JETS OR ENGAGE IN DIPLOMATIC BARTERING.

SOUNDBITE: President Barack Obama

"I'm not going to have one case with a suspect who we're trying to extradite suddenly be elevated to the point where I've got to start doing wheeling and dealing and trading on a whole host of other issues, simply to get a guy extradited so he can face the justice system,"

MEANWHILE, ECUADOREAN OFFICIALS SAY A SO-CALLED SAFE CONDUCT PASS ISSUED FOR SNOWDEN ISN'T VALID. ECUADOR HAS EXPRESSED SYMPATHY FOR SNOWDEN--BUT HASN'T MADE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO GRANT HIM ASYLUM.

(NATS IN SPANISH)

ECUADOR'S SECRETARY FOR NATIONAL AFFAIRS SAYS SNOWDEN HAS TO BE ON THE COUNTRY'S SOIL FOR THE ASYLUM REQUEST TO BE PROCESSED.

YESTERDAY, ICELAND CONFIRMED IT HAS AN INFORMAL REQUEST FOR ASYLUM FROM SNOWDEN, BUT LIKE ECUADOR, THAT REQUEST WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF HE'S IN THE COUNTRY.